Suicide

If you believe that you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to your local emergency room immediately.

Suicidal ideation is a common medical term for thoughts about suicide. Thoughts may be fleeting in nature, or they may persist and resolve into a formulated plan. Many people who experience suicidal thoughts do not die by suicide, although they may exhibit suicidal behavior or make suicide attempts. People who find themselves experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors may find that they do so as a result of conditions such as depression, hopelessness, severe anxiety, insomnia, or panic attacks. Not all people who are diagnosed with these or other medical or mental health conditions will experience suicidal ideation, but some may.

All suicidal ideation and behavior should be taken seriously, and those who have suicidal thoughts or know someone who is experiencing suicidal ideation should contact a crisis line as soon as possible.

Assessing Suicide Risk and Behavior

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A person might have persistent thoughts of suicide and never attempt suicide, but a person might also attempt suicide after only briefly experiencing suicidal ideation. Thus, it is important that all threats of suicide and suicidal behavior be taken seriously.

Causes of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior

A person may have thoughts of suicide for no discernable reason, but often suicidal ideation may occur as a symptom or result of a mental health condition or after one experiences a challenging life event, such as a failed or failing relationship(s); grief; medical illness; rejection; sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or physical abuse; or unemployment.

The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior might also be increased by one’s family or personal history. A family history of parasuicide (self-harm, attempts, or gestures with no intent to die) or a personal history of previous suicide attempts, for example, may increase one’s risk for suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation and behavior can also occur as a side effect of various psychotropic medications.

People diagnosed with schizophrenia have a higher rate of suicidal ideation during periods of remission, and those diagnosed with serious medical illnesses such as AIDS or cancer are more likely to experience suicidal ideation if they also have a psychiatric condition. Suicidal ideation and behavior have been found to be most prevalent in people who are coping with mood issues such as bipolar while also dealing with substance or alcohol abuse.

Psychological issues that might lead one to experience thoughts of suicide include, but are not limited to:

Therapy for Suicidal Ideation

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Psychotherapy can often be beneficial for people who are experiencing chronic suicidal ideation and behavior. However, when individuals are at risk of suicide it is essential that they receive a higher level of care, such as hospitalization or intense in-patient or out-patient treatment. Weekly psychotherapy is simply insufficient to protect those who are in crisis and adequately address their risk. Once an individual is no longer in crisis, therapy to treat the underlying causes of suicidal ideation or behavior is typically recommended.

The psychotherapy model considers hopelessness to be the strongest contributing factor to suicidal ideation, and a large part of crisis intervention and post crisis counseling aims to restore hope.

An individual who continues in therapy once the point of crisis has passed will likely explore ways to resist urges to self-harm (if the person engaged in self-harming behavior), address the factors that led to suicidal thoughts, and create a plan that includes coping strategies and methods to address suicidal thoughts in the event that they recur.

Medical Treatment for Suicidal Ideation

When an individual seeks treatment for suicidal ideation, health care professionals will likely attempt to diagnose and treat any medical or psychiatric conditions that may be present. Because a variety of concerns may lead one to experience thoughts of suicide, diagnosing any health concerns, physical or mental, is considered to be an important step in the treatment process. Some individuals may obtain benefit from psychotropic medications, which might be prescribed temporarily along with therapy.

In cases of severe suicidal ideation or behavior, or when an individual reaches a point of crisis, hospitalization or intense in-patient or out-patient treatment may be necessary. Because suicidal ideation may lead to deteriorating physical health or self-injury, medical treatment may also be necessary for some individuals.

Conditions Associated with Suicidal Ideation

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) lists many psychiatric conditions that may lead to or result from suicidal ideation and behavior. Not all individuals with one or more of these conditions will experience suicidal ideation or behavior, but having one or more of these conditions has been shown to increase one’s risk of suicidal ideation.

Adjustment disorder: A psychological response to identifiable stressor(s) that can lead to significant behavioral or emotional symptoms.

Anorexia nervosa: An eating disorder characterized by the inability to maintain a healthy body weight and an extreme fear of gaining weight due to a distorted self-image.

Bipolar: A mood condition defined by one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels with or without one or more depressive episodes.

Body dysmorphia: A psychological condition characterized by excessive concern and preoccupation with a perceived defect in physical features.

Borderline personality: A personality condition characterized by a prolonged disturbance of personality function, defined by depth and variability of moods.

Gender dysphoria: The mental distress that occurs when one’s gender identity does not align with the gender assigned at birth; in other words, gender dysphoria can be described as distress experienced as a result of being in the wrong body.

Major depressive disorder: A condition characterized by an all-encompassing low mood with low self-esteem and social isolation.

Panic: A form of anxiety characterized by severe and recurring panic attacks.

Posttraumatic stress (PTSD): A condition that may develop after exposure to an event that results in psychological trauma.

Social anxiety: A form of anxiety in which social situations cause an individual to experience significant fear and distress that may lead to an impaired ability to function.

Awareness and Prevention

Nonprofit organizations such as American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education work to raise awareness and help prevent suicide. These organizations provide educational materials, offer information on support groups and ways to cope with loss, and work to reduce the stigmatization of depression and other mental health issues that may lead to suicidal ideation.

References:

Key research findings. (n.d.) American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.afsp.org/understanding-suicide/key-research-findings

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